Are you currently unemployed? Do you think you would like to run your own business? Are you asking yourself, have I got what it takes to become a self-employed businessman/business woman?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, there is no better opportunity of finding out if you are suitable to run your own business, than enquiring about the New Enterprise Scheme and attending an Enterprise Club Start-up Training Course. To learn more about what the course has to offer, read my guest blog article “Have you got the guts to run your own business?’ on Sage One uk.sageone.com/2013/08/23/guts-to-run-your-own-business. The course is free and if you don’t want to go on the New Enterprise Allowance after you have completed the course, you don’t have to but you will receive lots of invaluable information that is vital to starting your own business. When opportunity knocks, don’t close the door.

As always, terms and conditions to attend the course and be able to have the New Enterprise Allowance, do apply.

“Hi, am nominating you for the Inspiring blogger award because you are helping people and your site that you sent me to has been really inspiring . I have an interview for a job on Dec 6th Thank you”

I cannot state enough, how happy I am to be nominated for this blog award and to inspire people is something I aspire to achieve at every opportunity. Thanks so much Sherry, I gratefully accept and hope you get a fantastic job soon.

For the ‘Very Inspiring Blogger Award’ The rules are:

1. I should display the award logo somewhere on my blog. Done.

2. Link back to the blog of the person who nominated me. Done.

3. State 7 things about myself. Done.

4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award and provide links to their blogs. Done.

5. Notify those bloggers that they have been nominated and of the award’s requirements. (Will do)

Here are 7 things I would like to share about myself:

I have been made redundant twice

Other than writing, which is my number one passion, I love listening to music, I find it relaxing and energising

I have a bronze for Freestyle/Disco dancing

I have appeared on the Channel Four programme called The TV Show in a live debate about Big Brother

Disneyland Paris is my favourite holiday destination and second to that is London

Their mission: “With our range of services, we support people with physical or mental health conditions and disabilities into lasting employment.”

I was given a tour of the Foundation by Community Fundraiser Phil Roberts. The building was light and airy and well equipped to meet training needs, with one computer per person and a lot of them. Spread over two floors the foundation offers a number of in-house courses to 18 years and over, that include:

And the best thing is, they will put you up in residential accommodation if you don’t live in Exeter and want to attend a course. That is subject to proof that you have got a disability and DWP terms and conditions. I would advise you to contact your local DisabilityEmployment Advisor at your local Jobcentre Plus to discuss your options and eligibility and you can speak directly to St Loye’s Employment Team by phoning 01392 255428 to find out more about the courses.

Every person that I was introduced to at St Loye’s, made me feel welcome and at ease. The tutors were on hand to give one-to-one support with courses such as Business Administration and CAD design and I got the feeling that it was a place where people could feel comfortable and supported in their training and respected as an individual.

Some exciting news – Soon they will be offering courses to people who are vulnerable but don’t necessarily have a disability. This means that if you are unemployed, over 19 years and claiming JSA, you will be able to take advantage of a number of training courses for free that you will find hard to get for free elsewhere in Exeter and that you may find hard to get at that level for free in the South West. For example, I have been told by an employee that they will be offering ECDL Levels, 1, 2 and 3. So log on to their website again in a few weeks time to gain access to courses for updating your skills or training for a new career. http://www.stloyesfoundation.org.uk

The thing is, you can do something about all of these and if you keep getting the same answer, for example, no answer at all, then it’s time to change what you are doing because it obviously isn’t working.

There are a number of people and places that can help you to write a good CV and cover letter and that is something I can help you with as part of my new redundancy services.

With regards to lack of experience, skills or knowledge, that is something that you need to learn for yourself and what better way to do it, than by going on a course.

This is particularly true if you are attempting a change of career and you are competing in a market with plenty of people who do have those credentials.

By going on a course, you will be able to decide if your new career, is one that you are passionate about and if it’s the right ‘fit’ for you.

So search your local college or university prospectus to find out more about various courses. Many hold open evenings so that you can talk through your options.

Search the web for long-distance courses or other local courses.

Ask at the job centre, what local places hold free courses if you are on JSA. There are often places that you can go to, to get a free or heavily subsidised course but you need to ask about these. I have found a fair few in my local area.

Speak to your family, friends and contacts. They may have gone on a course you didn’t realise they had been on and word of mouth is a good way of hearing about it.

Yes, although you are not physically working, your brain is more than likely working overtime by worrying about what may or may not happen to you in the future.

Now is the time to take stock of your life to gain some degree of control over it.

Make a list of your monthly income, which is probably money from benefits, then of your expenditure and of any savings you may have. If you have yearly expenditure you could divide that by 12 months This should help you to establish what salary you need to be earning when you apply for jobs and enable you to establish how long you can live without paid work. If you are in dire financial difficulties you can ask your local housing benefit office if they can access emergency funds.

Make a list of all the things you want to do in your life, both personally and professionally, from the simplest of ideas to the ideal dream scenario. Let your imagination run wild. Then next to each one, write down what it would take to achieve each of these. It may be to go back to college or university. Do voluntary work or work experience. Read a Self-Help or How to Book in order to teach yourself through their simple step-by-step guide. Enquire at your local job centre about funding. You will often discover courses are much cheaper or entirely free if you are claiming Job Seekers Allowance. Go to your local university or college and pick up a catalogue of information regarding the different courses available. Be proactive not reactive and make things happen. Many courses you can do in the evening and so you would still be available to work in the day. By doing a course it will increase your skills and experience, therefore making you a more appealing candidate to prospective employer. It will focus your mind on something other than your problems. Get you out of the house and increase your confidence.

Whilst this is a nerve-wracking subject for some, if you have any health problems or issues, now is the time to get them sorted. You will worry more in the future if you don’t face these now. Whether it is your physical or mental wellbeing, now is the perfect time to go to your doctor, ask to see a specialist consultant and/or attend counselling sessions. There is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. I have recently become a Health Buddy for South West CSV on a voluntary capacity for “The Stripping it Bare” campaign in association with Radio Devon. We encourage people from all walks of life to go for screening for things such as Chlamydia, Testicular Cancer and Breast Cancer. Whilst you are out of work, this is the perfect time to get yourself checked out and if you feel poorly, to get yourself better, so you are at your fittest to take on another job whether that be working for yourself or for someone else as an employee.

By actively doing things to improve your life or circumstances in some way, you will have less time to feel nervous, anxious, depressed or stressed about being redundant You will feel you are making some progress in your life and that will have a positive effect on you.

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

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